Mail-bag catcher and deliverer.



PATENTED JULY s, 1906,

K. BOWMAN. MAIL BAG GATCHER AND DELIVERER.

- APPLICATION FILED OCTlB, 19 05.

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Tnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NEWTON K. BOWMAN, OF NORTH LAWRENCE, OHIO.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER AND, DELIVERER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed October 16,1905. Serial No. 283,011.

State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers and Deliverers, of which the following is a specification.

It is common in the handling of mail carried in pouches, sacks, or the like and required to be delivered from fast-moving trains or to be taken up thereby when passing a station to employ a catcher upon the mail-car in the form of a hook, said catcher being mounted to be readily projected from the car into operative position or folded so as to be out of the way.

This invention utilizes the catcher and combines therewith novel means to effect delivery of mail from the car, the delivery means being preferably operated by the mail taken up by the catcher, both operations of receiving and delivering being practically simultaneous.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a mailcar provided with a mail-bag catcher and deliverer embodying the invention, the same being shown in folded position and having a mailsack suspended therefrom preliminary to being projected in position for delivery. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the car, showing the mail-bag catcher and deliverer in horizontal position for receiving and delivering mailmatter. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing the position which the deliverer will assume after the bag has been delivered.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The catcher illustrated is of the hook type and comprises the inclined arm 1 and hook 2 at the inner end thereof, said catcher being attached 'to a shaft 3, mounted in bearmgs applied to the j ambs of the opening in the side of the car through which the mail-matter is generally received and delivered. The shaft 3 is supplied with the usual handle 4 for convenience of manipulation when it is required to operate the catcher either to turn it into a vertical position so as to be out of the way or into a horizontal position to effect delivery and taking up of mail-matter.

The deliverer is attached to the catcher and is preferably so arranged as to be tripped or actuated by the mail being taken up. In the preferable form the deliverer consists of an arm 5, which is pivoted between its ends to the catcher, said arm having an end portion tapered and provided at its opposite end with a curved horn or hook 6, said horn and arm being in the same plane, so as to clear the catcher in the pivotal movement of the deliverer when actuated to effect release of the mail-bag supported thereby. A clearer 7 projects from the catcher 1, and its purpose is to strip the mail-bag from the horn or hook 6 when the arm 5 is turned, so as to insure delivery of the mail. The clearer or stripper 7 consists of an arm projected from the outer side of the catcher in position to enga e with the ring 8 by means of which the mailbag 9 is suspended.

When it is required to effect delivery of mail from a moving train, the bag or bags 9 are suspended from the horn or hook 6 of the deliverer, the catcher at this time occupying a vertical position so as to be out of the way and admitting of the mail-bag being readily applied to the deliverer. It is noted that a portion of the arm 5 extends across the angular space formed between the arm 1 and shaft 3 so as to project into the path of the mail-bag to be taken up by the catcher. As the train approaches the station the catcher is turned into an approximately horizontal position, as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. This throws the deliverer outward from the side of the car a distance to effect safe delivery of the mail. As the car approaches the crane or other device from which the mail to be received is suspended and as the catcher re ceives said mail, the arm 5 of the deliverer is tripped by the mail taken ,up by the catcher and said deliverer is turned into theposition substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and the bag suspended by the horn or hook 6 is released therefrom and is received in a suitable receptacle 10, arranged to insure safe delivery thereof. As the mail-bag is taken up by the catcher and the inner end of thearm 5 is moved rearward the hook or arm 6 is correspondingly thrown forward, and the ring 8 of the bag suspended therefrom is forced against the part 7 and is stripped from said hook.

The invention provides sim le means for effecting both a delivery of mai from a moving train and the taking up of mail by said train in a single contrivance which is adapted to be thrown into and out of operative position by one movement and which may be fitted to any of the catcher devices now in use at a very slight outlay and without requiring modification in the construction thereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with a mail-ba catcher, of a deliverer carried thereby and aving a portion extended in the path of the mail to be taken up to be actuated by direct contact therewith to eflect release of the mail to be delivered.

2; In combination with a mail-bag catcher, of a deliverer attached to and carried by said catcher and movable therewith into and out of operative position and adapted to be tripped by the mail taken up by said catcher to effect a release of the mail to be delivered.

3. In combination with a mail-bag catcher,

of a deliverer pivoted thereto and adapted tohave a portion extended across the path of the mail taken up by said catcher to be tripped thereto to effect a release of the mail to be delivered.

4. In combination with a mail-bag catcher, of a deliverer pivoted-thereto and having an end portion extended into the path of the mail to be taken u by said catcher to be tripped thereby to e ect a release of the mail tobe delivered.

the path of the mail to be taken up and havlng its opposite end portion projected outward from the catcher and provided with a lateral horn or hook for receiving and sup-' porting the bag containing the mail to be delivered.

7. In combination, a mail-bag catcher, a deliverer carried thereby and having a portion extended into the path of the mail to be taken up so as to be tripped thereby to efiect release of the mail to be delivered, and a stripper cooperating with said deliverer to insure release of the mail-bag when said deliverer is trip ed. I

8. In com ination, a mail-bag catcher, a

deliverer pivoted between its ends thereto and having an end portion extended across the path of the mail to be taken up and having its opposite end portion provided with a hook or horn for supporting the mail to be delivered, and a stripper projected from said catcher and cooperating with the hook to effect release of the mail-bag therefrom when the deliverer is tripped.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NEWTON K. BOWMAN. 

